Conflict Resolution 9

FORGIVENESS

AS SPOKEN OF IN THE SCRIPTURES

PSALM 103:8-14

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us; nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

According to these verses, what is God's attitude toward us when we sin? ______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What should our attitude be toward those who sin against us?_________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

LUKE 17:3-4

“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

What does God Word say about talking those near and/or dear to us when they sin against us or someone we know?_____________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why is it the loving thing to do to rebuke a sinner when he sins?_______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What condition must the offender meet to be forgiven?______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why must the offender repent?__________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PROVERBS 24:17-18

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it and be displeased and turn away His anger from that enemy for his offenses against you.

PROVERBS 24:29a

Do not say, "Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me...."

ROMANS 12: 17-21

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

EPHESIANS 4:31-32

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

COLOSSIANS 3:12-14

And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Are we to want harm to come to those who harm us?________________________________________________________________

Why?______________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

These verses list attitudes, feelings, and actions that hinder forgiveness and damage relationships. What are they?______________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

These verses list attitudes, feelings, and actions that encourage us to forgive and restore relationships. What are they?___________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When facing conflict, what are your most common attitudes, feelings, and actions? Do any attitudes, feelings, or actions need changing?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MATTHEW 6:14-15

For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

MATTHEW 18:21-35

Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. And when he had begun to settle them, there was brought to him one who owed him ten thousand talents (equivalent to $10,000,000.00). But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. The slave therefore falling down, prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.' And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii ($18); and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' So his fellow slave fell down and began to entreat him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' He was unwilling however, but went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?' And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. So shall my heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

MARK 11:25-26

"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."

Does your forgiving others affect God's forgiveness of you?___________________________________________________________

How?______________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Return To Chapter 8

Return To The Table Of Contents

Move On To Chapter 10

Revised 2020